REIGATE, 30th November, 2010 - Canon UK, world leader in imaging solutions, and WWF, the global conservation organisation, today announce some key findings from the WWF-Canon Polar Bear Tracker Programme, which launched in 2007.
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The tagging and tracking of these bears has indicated interesting behaviour in cubs – they have been spotted travelling on their mothers’ backs during swimming. Scientists assessing the behaviour believe that: Due to a decrease in sea ice during the summer polar bears now have to swim longer distances. Data from collared bears has also indicated that this is a recent phenomenon. This is dangerous for bears that are in poor condition or that are caught in poor weather. For cubs, travelling these distances on their mothers’ backs could be vital for their ability to survive in surroundings with scattered ice, which is prime habitat for polar bears when hunting seals. Polar bear cubs do not yet have a sufficient fat layer to avoid chilling if swimming in icy water for any prolonged period of time. Travelling on their mothers’ backs means much of their lower body will be in direct contact with the mothers’ fur and a considerable part of the body will be out of the water, reducing heat loss.
“These are interesting findings,” comments Geoff York, polar bear specialist for WWF. “As the Arctic ice continues to melt, it is likely that polar bears are increasingly going to have to swim longer distances. Data from tagged bears near Alaska has indicated swims of 350-400 miles in the past four years and if polar bear cubs are forced to cover these distances then it is vital for them to behave in a way that minimises heat loss. This reported behaviour, and anything else that helps cub survival in those circumstances, is good news.”
Geoff York is currently in Churchill, Canada, where he is observing the polar bear population here, which is particularly under threat by climate change. Here, he has taken part in the broadest coastal survey to be completed at this time of year, in Hudson Bay. This will hopefully add important information about the bears' distribution and numbers to current research, and could be used as a baseline for future surveys. Indications are that this year may be the latest ever freeze-up for Hudson Bay, which will mean a longer, hungrier time onshore for the bears and with this, further distances which they will have to swim.
The findings from the Polar Bear Tracker come as Canon celebrates its 12th year as conservation partner to WWF. The programme means more polar bears than ever before have been tagged and tracked, enabling researchers to collect valuable information for conserving polar bears.
“We are proud of our long partnership with WWF,” said Jason Sullivan, Corporate Communications Manager, Canon UK. “The WWF-Canon Polar Bear Tracker programme helps to raise awareness of some of the key challenges of climate change and environmental sustainability, engaging a wide audience, including children, parents and teachers. It is an important project which has strong synergies with our corporate philosophy of Kyosei – which means living and working together for the common good.”
A key part of the Polar Bear Tracker Programme is the Canon Kid’s Zone, a micro-site designed to teach children aged 7-11 about the conservation of polar bears and the Arctic region. It uses educational games, trivia and fact sheets themed around the Arctic environment to interact with children and, as well as educational fun for them, it provides teacher packs and resources for parents. For more information on the WWF-Canon Polar Bear Tracker programme: http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/arctic/area/species/polarbear/polar_bear/
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